Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-03-28

Inc saaGitlll Cranes Eird Circus-iroiics
of Feathcred Dancers--The Humning
Birds Fight for Wifc-Other Curious
Coartships.
In some Of the African tribes when mar
riage is proposed by the dusky lover the coy
maiden puts him through course of physical
sprouts that is considered test of his capa-
bilities as the protector and supporter Of
family. He appears before her and her
friends and goes through a series of ground
and lofty tumbling that would do credit to
professional athlete-leaps into tho air,
strides along TO show his walking powers, and
throws his limbs this way and that 10 show
the development of muscles; finally, il be
makes good exhibition, be is accepted, and
ever afterward the woman does all the hard
work, the groom having demonstrated, how
ever that he can do it if pushed to the wall
Among the cranes, especially the sandhill
cranes, almost exactly the same thing can be
seen In the mating season, and if any one can
approach a flock ut this time they will be re-
paid by fHost remarkable slght-a veritable
bird circus. 4 fclatiye of mine had a large
marsh upon his estate. and here the great
birds made their summer home; building
their curious nests there and rearing their
young. The marsh was surrounded by high
grass, and it was his practice to creep through
and watch the birds unobserved. The antics
they went through it would be impossible to
deScribe-now they would caper along in
pairs, stepping dainty with the winning gait
of the ideal exquisite, lifting their feathers OF
wings, taking short steps and gradually work
ing themselves up to bird frenzy of excite
ment, when they would leap into the air and
over each others backs, taking short runs,
this way and that, all for the edification of
the females standing by, and finally, after
series of these exhibition, the different birds
selected their mates
FRoLIC OF FEATHERED DANCERS.
Among the birds of the western hemisphere
the cock If the rock ranks next to the crane
in the strangeness of its evolHtiolls The bird
is confined TO South America and is ale,,t The
size of a small pigeon; has a bright orange
web in the male, with plumelike arrange
ment on the head, It is proud bird. prin-
cipauy buildins its nest in rocky places not
frequented by man 1T the commencement
OF the breeding season party Of birds num-
bering from ten to twenty, assemble, and
selecting clear space among the rocks form
ring or circle, facing inward Now a small
bird takes its place i'll the center and begins f.
hop about, toss its head, lift its wins and so
through all the strange movements possibla
that appear to be watched with great iutere
by the rest. When the performer is thor
ouShIy exhausted he retires to the circle and
anolhe: bird enters The ring, and so on. until
all have put through their PAGES, when the
pairs probably make their selection. Often
the birds are so exhausted after the dances
taat they can hardly fly, lying painting on the
rocks.
In England the courtship of the great Eng
iish bustard is a rare sight, the magnificent
creature performing most of its love antics in
the air, making great swoops downward, al
most touching the ground then rising aloft
10 mover over Its mate, uttering peculiar
cry, then allSbtng and wing with the turkey
In Its proud aspect. The great Otis Ben
galeiisis struts about like peacock, hum
ming the while in curious series of notes.
supposed TO be the dulcet tones addressed to
the female bird.
The courtship of the liumming bird is
particularly arluous operation, the lover
having to fight his way to nuptiaI life. Sew
erai species of these little living gems are
common in my dooryard and are engaged in
Il continual warfare with each other; often
the engagement is carried on with such vigor
that the birds are injured. A friend near bv
tells me that in observing these contests she is
positive that at times the male when finding
that he Is being wOrsted feigns death, and
drops to the gruond in fact, plays possum, to
escape, and carries it to such an extent that
she has gone out and picked the bird up and
brought it into the house. where it soon recov-
cred.